State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said battery-powered autorickshaws will face fines if they are charged from sources other than solar power. Speaking to journalists after a review meeting on solar power use on August 17, he said vehicles charged without solar electricity would not receive registration, while renewals would be denied if such charging occurred after registration.

The government is bringing battery-powered autorickshaws under registration by city corporations and municipalities within the Local Government Ministry. Alam said the registration conditions will require charging through solar power. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority will no longer issue registrations for these vehicles, he added.

A law on the matter has been passed in Parliament, and regulations are being prepared to set registration fees, renewal fees and other conditions. For registration and renewal, autorickshaws will be required to obtain fitness certificates from BUET or the automobile department of government polytechnic institutes at district level. The certificate must then receive a countersignature from traffic police before being submitted to the relevant city corporation or municipality.